Memory Bound BLOG

Paper Crafting Trends for 2012

2012-02-02T20:46:00.000-06:00

We noticed many trends at this week's Craft and Hobby Trade Show in Anaheim. Here are a few and we'll try to bring you more in another post.
Take a look (click on photos for a bigger view) and let us know what you think!

1DECORATIVE TAPE (Washi, Masking, and Paper ) was introduced last year and is stickingaround with many new colors & patterns. Use it just like tape, but let it show for afun embellishment.

PENNANT BANNERS are everywhere and have expandedwith garlands made from other shapes. We’re also seeing flags made of singlepennants on little sticks.

TWINE continues to wrap its way around thecrafting world. It can be added to most any project for

SMASH Books and other mini “junk” binders arefun places to collect your thoughts, photos, memories, etc. They don’t have therules or boundaries of traditional scrapbooking and are very doable. Coming soon from Smash, Simple Stories, & Amy Tangerine.

VINYL for die cutting is now available in manycolors and in single sheets, including glass etching. It’s great on walls, but trending to smallerprojects, including cards & layouts.

ART JOURNALING with stamps, sprays, paints, & markers. (Watch for our Katie's Copic Art Journaling Class at Memory Bound.)

RETRO designs bring nostalgia to paper crafts and give us that warm feeling of yesterday. They just make you think, "Oh, I remember that."

Other trends to watch for: home decor projects, items for parties, honeycomb, kraft paper, and they just keep on going --- bling, flowers, buttons & ribbon

Click here to see our photo album from CHA.

Photos from CHA!

2012-02-02T16:06:00.002-06:00

Tim Holtz demos his new Distress Markers at the Ranger booth at CHA

Dawn & I just returned from the Craft and Hobby Trade Show (known as CHA) in Anaheim, CA! Hundreds of vendors set up creative and exciting booths to show their product lines - we try to visit them all and this is where we write orders for the store. Can you imagine how much fun it is to shop for product for Memory Bound!!

Here is the Bo Bunny booth - lots of action!

Yes, our feet get tired; and yes, it's sometimes hard to decide what to buy -- but it's all worth the fun, laughs, and inspiration we get! And we love seeing people we know like other store owners, vendors, and industry people. It's really fun to see others from Iowa like Betsy Flot and Matt & Ryan from Reminisce!


Betsy's book INSPIRATION STATION was a hit at the show! (If you don't have a copy, stop by and get one!)

The Reminisce gang traveled from Iowa to set up their booth. Their new release is awesome -- we had it all ordered before we got to the show!

Inspiration is a big thing we take home from the show -- so many projects & ideas we see! We wanted to share that with our customers so we've posted over 300 photos in our CHA Winter 2012 Album on FaceBook.

CLICK HERE to check out the photos and enjoy!

CHA - Another favorite: Oct Afternoon

2012-02-01T10:07:00.000-06:00

Dawn and I are sitting in the airport ready to come home and thought we'd let you know about another company release that we liked: OCTOBER AFTERNOON. We loved their Cake Walk and 9 to 5 collections!

We know you'll love the new lines!

Click here to see more from the October Afternoon booth -- and many additional CHA photos -- on our Facebook CHA album!

Kellie

Katie's new Copic series starts soon!

2012-02-01T09:32:00.000-06:00

Love your Copic markers but need some fresh ideas on how to use them?

We have the perfect solution for you! Katie has a new series of classes starting this weekend (but you can jump in anytime) where you will learn whimsical art journaling. You will look at your markers in a whole new way!

I spent some time recently looking at Katie's class samples -- and I have to say I was amazed! I love the fun colors and freehand "doodling" look. I asked Katie for her thoughts about the new class series.

"You don't have to be an artist to do art journaling," she told me. There is a step-by-step method for creating each image, and Katie will break each one down simply for you.
Anyone can do it!

In addition to learning art journaling, you'll also learn to use your Copics properly so that you don't damage your markers. Katie will show you how to maintain your markers by replacing the tips and refilling when needed.

You'll learn about the best papers and ink to use in order to create images to color.

Katie will teach you all about the colorless blender, how to shade your images, and how to choose colors to achieve the look you want.

You'll learn a fresh new approach to freehand drawing and coloring stamped images!

Give us a call to sign up! The first class in the series starts on Saturday, February 4, but you can start at any point. The current class series will continue through March (watch for the dates on our next calendar). Katie will also offer the series again beginning in April. Don't miss out on the fun!

Janet

Copic Coloring Journal – Your Way

Saturday, February 4 (Class 1), 11am-1pm

Thursday, February 16 (Class 2), 6-8pm

Instructor: Katie Belding / Fee: $16 per class

Skill Level: Any

Bring Basic Class Kit plus your own Copic markers, a .5 black multi-liner pen, pencil, eraser, glue dots, & pop dots. Optional: Memento stamp pad & acrylic blocks

Class 1 (Feb 4): Overview of classes, create Copic color combinations to use with whimsical images, and practice shading with grays.

Class 2 (Feb 16): Doodling, doodling & more doodling with lines, dots, stamped images, and word lists with doodling around them!

CHA - One of Kellie's Favorites: Simple Stories

2012-01-31T23:43:00.002-06:00

I am a big fan of Simple Stories' product lines and was not disappointed at their CHA release! Loved talking to the owner and her husband! They have 3 NEW collections - Awesome, Fabulous, Documented, along with new pockets called Odds N Ends, AND MY FAVE OF ALL - the 6x9 binders!

Don't worry - you'll get to see it, too, because WE BOUGHT IT ALL!

See more photos from Simple Stories in our

CHA Winter 2012 Album on Facebook!

CLICK HERE to see more of their lines and cool projects from their booth!

CHA - day 2: New Vinyl

2012-01-30T13:00:00.001-06:00

Cricut Fans -- This pic might not look exciting, but Dawn & I are very excited because we just ordered individual sheets of 12x12 vinyl! It's only $1.99.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

BONUS! Another Valentine Make-N-Take: Wed, Feb 1

2012-01-29T23:17:00.000-06:00

Hey, everyone! We have two more Valentine Make-N-Takes coming up on Wednesday, February 1 and Wednesday, February 8! You won't find either one on the calendar, so I consider them BONUS holiday crafting days!

This coming Wednesday, February 1, we'll be making this super cute Valentine with a fun little closure. Stop by anytime between 1 and 6pm to make this adorable card for a special someone! Materials fee: $1-2

We hope to see you Wednesday!

Janet

CHA - Day 1

2012-01-29T22:38:00.002-06:00

Dawn & I spent our first day at the Craft & Hobby Trade Show (in CA - beautiful weather with 80 degrees!) finding all kinds of fun product for Memory Bound. Our feet are tired but our minds are excited with INSPIRATION! Here's a few things we saw today in the Canvas Corp booth. We hope to make a sample of this adorable Easter wall hanging. We also ordered all colors of their fabric flowers. We're adding more pics to our FACE BOOK page, so check there later.

Weekend Crafting: Paper Hearts Valentine Projects

2012-01-28T09:57:00.000-06:00

Valentine's Day is fast approaching!

Wouldn't it be fun to make a cute little project or two to celebrate the holiday? If you have kids -- or if you're a kid at heart! -- these two projects would be great fun to make this weekend!

Jean made the heart wreath with strips of coordinated double-sided paper. Fold, bend, and staple to create hearts, then staple them together to create a wreath. This would be a great way to use up some scraps! The wreath is on display at Memory Bound.

Betsy found this adorable wreath banner idea on the Echo Park website. It is made with very similar hearts and would also be a fun and easy way to use up scraps! Click HERE for complete instructions on how to make this cute project!

Happy weekend crafting!
Janet

Fun at the Memory Bound Staff Crop - Part 2

2012-01-26T10:00:00.002-06:00

The Memory Bound staff recently held a staff crop. I took so many pictures that I had to split this post into two parts! You can read about all the fun we had in Part 1 of my post here.

While at the crop, I took pictures of projects created by our talented staff members, including mini-albums by Diane, Betsy, and Mindy.

Diane had just finished the pages for her new grandson Gavin's Halloween album. (She'll be working on the cover later.) When her first grandson, Garrett, was born a few years ago, Diane made him a series of 8x8 mini-albums for several occasions such as birthday, Easter, Christmas, and Halloween. She is now doing the same series of albums for new baby Gavin.

Diane includes pages for several years of photos in the albums, so each year her daughter simply adds a few favorite pictures.

Gavin's Halloween mini-album is adorable! What a great gift idea! It's also perfect for those who want to record memories but prefer a smaller format.

Betsy just finished up a beautiful mini-album of Christmas memories. She used an album kit from Memory Bound. The vintage art on the cover gives it a timeless feel.

Betsy's album incorporates Christmastime photos from many generations. Looking through the book is like a trip through her family's history.

She even mailed tags to her relatives and asked them to write about their favorite Christmas memories. The tags add so much detail to her little album! Betsy's project is a real treasure.

Mindy just finished her first December journal album. I love the way it turned out! She cut the pages for the album from Christmas paper and bound them with The Cinch.

Mindy was diligent about taking photos and making notes for every day of December. She has a page for each day of the month detailing her family's activities. I love this concept!

She included photos of family gatherings, Christmas lights, and a visit to see Santa Claus.

The matching chipboard pieces add the perfect touch to this beautiful holiday keepsake!

Thanks to Diane, Betsy, and Mindy for sharing their wonderful projects with us!
Janet

Saturday Class: Get Organized Challenge

2012-01-24T09:07:00.002-06:00

How many of us put "get organized" on our list of resolutions for the new year? I'm sure it has to rank right up there with "lose weight" and "exercise more". Personally, I think "get organized" sounds a whole lot more fun than those other two goals, don't you? ;)

This coming Saturday, January 28, 1-3pm, I'll be teaching Get Organized Challenge. This is one of my all-time favorite classes, and I'm excited to do it again because I've updated the class with new storage ideas and lots of "before and after" pictures of crafting spaces. This fun class is only $5!

We'll talk about various styles and methods of organizing, and we'll delve into storage ideas for just about everything a scrapbooker needs to store -- from photos to the tiniest of embellishments. You'll leave with concrete ideas of changes you can make so that you are more inspired and more productive!

Let's get started on that New Year's resolution to organize your space. Give us a call today to register! No dieting required! :)

Janet

P.S. If you can't make it on Saturday, I'll be repeating this class in March.

Look for it on our next calendar, available in mid-February.

Next Valentine Card Make-N-Take: Wed, Jan 25

2012-01-23T10:03:00.000-06:00

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, so don't miss the opportunity to make an adorable accordion-fold card for someone very special!

Stop by for our next Valentine Make-N-Take on Wednesday, January 25, 1-6pm. Sit down at our make-n-take table, chat, laugh, and make a super-cute card. You can't beat that!

Materials fee: $1-2

See you soon!
Janet

Fun at the Memory Bound Staff Crop - Part 1

2012-01-22T15:33:00.003-06:00

The Memory Bound gals had a staff crop last Sunday. As you might imagine, a good time was had by all! Of course, I came armed with my camera so that I could document the fun. In fact, I took so many pictures that I'll have to share the rest in Part 2 later this week!

You all know Diane, our store manager. But did you know she is one of the most productive scrapbookers you'll ever meet? Her new grandson was just born a week before the crop, and she had already finished one mini-album for him and was starting on a second! I'll share more about her mini-albums, as well as pictures of her Halloween book, in Part 2.

I sat next to Diane and Diana, hoping their extreme productivity would rub off on me. :)

Diana works in the store and also teaches our Scrappin' Kidz After School classes each month. She is also super-productive! This was her third straight day of scrapbooking, as she had attended our store crops on both Friday and Saturday.

Right now, Diana is making albums for her granddaughter's graduation. We all loved this page with the string "spaghetti"!

Here are two additional layouts she finished of Paige as a little girl. These will be so fun to share at her open house!

And here's Amanda with an adorable layout of her baby and husband.

Amanda was making several pages with this October Afternoon line. Love the flowers!

Dawn and Kellie ran the store that day so that the staff could crop. Thanks, Dawn and Kellie! But before the store could open, Dawn had to fix her apron!

Voila!

Maggie brought card-making supplies to the crop. I immediately noticed her little accordion file of scraps and asked her about it. She told me she bought it at our recent garage sale. I burst out laughing -- because guess who sold it! ME! And prior to that, I had bought it from Sharon Willard, one of our long-time customers, at another garage sale! We all had a good laugh over that! This little accordion file has certainly made the rounds. We THINK it has now found a permanent home with Maggie, but keep your eye open for it at the next garage sale! LOL

Maggie made several cards that day and has already used a few of them!

Katie was working on her son's Kindergarten album. She uses an 8.5x11 binder and page protectors to house his school papers.

She sorted through a lot of papers and kept the really special ones.

I was intrigued by Katie's process because I have a hard time parting with school papers. I brought my daughter's old school papers to sort and Katie even had to help me throw a few things away. Thanks to Katie, everything fit in my accordion files! :)

Here are Bonnie and her daughter Brittany. Bonnie was working on a UNI layout and Brittany was making a decorated frame. Aren't they adorable?

And here's Betsy with a sneak peek of her Christmas album. I will share photos of this album in Part 2. It's beautiful!

And here is Mindy who was just finishing up her December album. I took several pictures of her wonderful mini-book which you will see in Part 2.

As you can see, we all had a great time working on projects, snacking, and sharing fun stories. We can't wait to do it again soon! Watch for more pictures coming later this week. :)

Janet

Doodlebug Card Kit

2012-01-20T08:30:00.001-06:00

I don't know about you, but I was sort of enjoying the mild winter we were having here! Now it looks like we're settling into a typical Iowa winter of snow and freezing temperatures. I long for the days when I'll be able to get outside and work in my flower gardens!

If you're also suffering from the winter blues, cheer yourself up with our latest kit! I recently designed a set of all-occasion greetings made with colorful Doodlebug journaling cards. The kit has instructions, photos, and everything you need to put together five brightly colored cards. The flowers and butterflies will have you thinking SPRING!

The kits are available now at Memory Bound. Pick one up to put together on a snowy afternoon!

Janet

Girls' Night Out

2012-01-18T13:38:00.005-06:00

Our January meeting of Girls' Night Out was, as usual, a lot of fun! This group meets monthly to share projects and inspiration. You can read more about this group in my previous post here.

I think that everyone in our group would tell you that Girls' Night Out leaves them feeling inspired and ready to get crafting! In addition to our monthly meetings, we do some other fun things as well. In December, we donated some of our unused crafting supplies to an elementary school art program in Joplin, Missouri. We're also having a crop just for our group at the end of January. Next month, our group is going to start working on "circle journals" or other "pass-along" projects.

I took a few pictures of just some of the wonderful projects our members brought to share at the January meeting.

RaNae had a very busy holiday season making TONS of gifts for everyone on her list.

She decorated beautiful gift bags, too. This is just one of several!

RaNae found this wooden calendar at Goodwill. She cleaned it up, gave it a good sanding, then re-purposed it into a perpetual calendar. She made the labels and numbers, and added small stickers to designate special days. Such a fun project!

Karen brought a very cool binder inspired by the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas. Instead of creating tags, she adapted Tim's designs and put them in a binder. What a great idea!

Karen also shared several layouts, including this one from a recent visit to Zombie Burger in Des Moines. (Have you been there? It's getting quite the buzz!)

Janice brought several projects to share, including this adorable Valentine.

And she made this decorated photo/frame for the sweetest little girl. Love the wings!

Diana is another very productive and creative member of our group! This is one of the adorable layouts she shared. I love how she was able to fit so many pictures on this spread!

Linda brought this super cool Halloween mini-album.

Pictures just don't do it justice. It is chock full of fun embellishments with a vintage feel!

Jill brought a lovely friendship-themed mini-album. She always amazes us with her mini-albums!

Jill made this album from scratch with all kinds of folded pieces and tabs. Beautiful project!

Fonda had a busy month so didn't have projects to share. Even though I resisted mightily, she insisted on taking my picture -- I'm normally the one BEHIND the camera! So of course I had to take a picture of her taking a picture. :)

I shared samples for some upcoming classes, including my Year of Cards class scheduled for Saturday, February 4.

And this is a coil-bound binder I made for my daughter's old artwork. I punched holes with The Cinch and use the WRMK coil binding to attach the art and the covers. I love the coils because you can easily remove them by twisting, making it simple to add more pages.

We would love to welcome new members to Girls' Night Out in 2012! If you would like to join us, our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 13, 6-7:30pm. Give us a call to sign up. It's FREE and lots of fun!

Next Valentine Make-N-Take: Wed, Jan 18, 1-6pm

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

January is rolling right along, and we're midway through our Valentine Make-N-Takes!

Our next Make-N-Take will be this coming Wednesday, January 18. Stop in anytime between 1 and 6pm to make this classic Valentine designed by Dawn. You'll learn some new techniques and leave with a completed card in hand, ready to give to a special someone. Materials fee: $1-2

We hope to see you Wednesday!

Janet

Got Farm Pictures?

2012-01-15T00:31:00.001-06:00

I've been checking out the new products arriving at Memory Bound. The new Cock-A-Doodle-Doo line from Kaisercraft caught my eye right away!

Being from IOWA, many of us have farm or fair pictures to scrapbook. Do you have photos from the Little Hands on the Farm exhibit at the Iowa State Fair? This line would be great fun for those pages! Many of the papers would work well for your pumpkin patch pictures, too.

The barn is a large shaped element that could be used on a scrapbook page, or even for party decor or a classroom bulletin board. There are several patterned papers and die cut stickers, too. And of course TWINE is the perfect embellishment!

I love the stitched letter stickers! They are versatile enough to use on most any type of layout.

So grab your farm pictures and head on over to Memory Bound. You'd best MOOO-ve it for the best selection! ;)

Janet

Staff Project: Diane's Christmas Journal

2012-01-13T10:07:00.000-06:00

Last fall, I posted about the December Journals being made by many of our talented staff members. (If you missed the post, you can check it out here.) In a nutshell, a December Journal is a small album created to capture daily memories throughout the month of December. You prepare the album pages ahead of time, then add photos, memorabilia, and journaling throughout the month. At the end of December, you have a special holiday keepsake.

Our store manager Diane just finished her Christmas Journal for 2011. (Yes, you read that right. Diane has already finished her album, and I haven't even put away all of my Christmas decorations yet! LOL) Diane is one of the most productive scrapbookers I've ever met. She enjoys making projects like this with a vintage, eclectic style. Her album is amazing!

Diane used a Fancy Pants journal as the foundation of her album. She made the album back in October so that it was all ready to go for the holiday season.

Diane inked, stamped, and sewed on her album pages. This type of project is a great way to use up little bits of this and that!

I really like the small photos she added to her album pages. Printing small images allowed her to fit many on each page.

Diane added photo sleeves between a few of the pages. This is a great way to incorporate 4x6 photos into her framework. Notice how she wrote on the photos with a white pen!

I love the little bits of tinsel and bling! On this page, she created a diagonal pocket.

Here's another pocket to hold special cards received.

Throughout the month, she kept track of wish lists, invitations, and more...everything that made the holiday season special for her family.

She even kept her shopping lists!

I'm so impressed with all that Diane packed into a small journal. What a treasure this will be in years to come! If you have any questions about creating a December Journal, please ask us at Memory Bound. We would love to help you get started! It's not too early to create your journal for next Christmas!

Thanks, Diane, for inspiring us with your amazing project!
Janet

Upcoming Class: Let's Eat! Recipe Album

2012-01-11T08:00:00.001-06:00

I'm the first to admit that I'm not very handy in the kitchen. I once exploded a roast and had to clean beef shreds off of my mother's kitchen ceiling. Not too long ago, I baked a tin can lid into a pan of pork and beans. There's never a dull moment when I'm in the kitchen!

Even though cooking isn't really my thing, I do enjoy making recipe albums! Over the years, I've made several different kinds. I hope you'll join me for my next class, where will make a simple recipe album using the adorable new Let's Eat! line. I love the 5.5x8.5 size of this album. It's large enough to fit two recipe cards on each page, and you can add more pages after class. This would be a great gift to make for Mother's Day or a wedding shower. (Don't worry...you can provide your OWN recipes! LOL)

As you might imagine, our recipe classes are always lots of fun! Give us a call to sign up...and be prepared to share your OWN kitchen tales! :)

Let's Eat! Recipe Album

Saturday, January 21, 9:30am-12pm

Instructor: Janet Petersma / Fee: $24

Skill Level: Any / Bring Basic Class Kit plus brown Distress Ink, blending tool, Crop-A-Dile, corner rounder, glue dots, Xyron X

This simple recipe binder will be the perfect place to keep your family favorites. We’ll use the adorable new Let’s Eat! line to make a 5.5x8.5 album which can grow with your recipe collection. Recipe albums are perfect for giving…or keeping!

Valentine Card Make-N-Take: January 11, 1-6pm

2012-01-09T08:00:00.001-06:00

Get ready for Valentine's Day with our January

Make-N-Takes!

Each Wednesday in January,1-6pm, we'll be making a different Valentine. Stop by during that time frame and, for a small fee, you'll MAKE a card and TAKE it home with you! You'll learn something new each week.

On Wednesday, January 11, we'll be making this pretty card with a vintage feel. You'll ink and mix patterns to create a lovely greeting perfect for your special someone.

Hope to see you on Wednesday, January 11, 1-6pm!

Janet

More Valentine's Day Fun!

2012-01-08T17:54:00.001-06:00

I've been checking out all the wonderful Valentine's Day displays at Memory Bound and have concluded that I've never before seen so many cute products and projects for this special day! Let's take a quick tour of everything I couldn't show you in my last Valentine's Day post!

When you step into the store, you'll see a beautiful table of all kinds of Valentine's Day projects, including cards, treat containers, and this super-cute banner made from coasters and die-cut letters.

We have all kinds of ideas for packaging candy to give to your special someone! And who doesn't need a little bit of chocolate?!

I love these versatile tubes! We have instructions and samples for transforming them into adorable treat containers. They make easy and economical gifts!

And Pinecone Press has two great new lines of paper. I love this vintage line!

The images on this paper remind me of old-fashioned Valentines. Of course, that does NOT mean I'm old or anything... :)

And I'm a sucker for anything pink and brown!

This paper would be PERFECT for Valentine cards. Start by cutting out the big hearts from the heart paper and the rectangles from the grid paper. Then use the cut-out pieces (along with a bit of striped paper, of course!) to decorate the fronts of pink and brown cards. You'll have a set of sweet little cards in no time at all!

Happy Valentine's Day crafting!

Janet

Let's Start at the Very Beginning...

2012-01-05T09:58:00.001-06:00

"Let's start at the very beginning....a very good place to start."

Can you name that song? It's "Do-Re-Mi" from one of my very favorite movies, The Sound of Music. This song is all about starting with the basics first: "When you read, you begin with ABC. When you sing, you begin with do-re-mi."

When you scrapbook, it makes sense to start with the basics. At Memory Bound, we've been offering very successful Beginners' Scrapbooking classes since the store opened over 10 years ago. We typically offer two classes each month -- and they're FREE! Over the years, we have helped thousands of people get started in scrapbooking!

I've been teaching our Beginners' Scrapbooking classes since the store opened. I love getting new people started on the right foot! But you'd be surprised at how many experienced crafters come to the class for a refresher. Many people start scrapbooking on their own without any instruction, so they find that coming to a class provides them with the fundamentals they may have missed.

In our Beginners' Class, we discuss the PRODUCTS needed to get started in scrapbooking as well as the PROCESS of making a page. Then I assist each student individually in creating a layout. Along the way, we discuss color and design principles and look at lots of samples so students can start to determine their own scrapbooking style. Unlike the approach used at other stores in which everyone makes the same page, I have found that it works best for students to design their own page so they get a feel for how build a simple but wonderful layout on their own.

Our next Beginners' Scrapbooking Classes are scheduled for January 7, January 16, February 8, and February 19. See our newsletter for all the details and give us a call to register! Whether you're new to scrapbooking or feel like you need a new start in the new year, I would love to have you join us in a Beginners' Scrapbooking Class in 2012!

Janet

Next Up: Valentine's Day!

2012-01-03T08:00:00.008-06:00

May this Valentine’s Day be filled with love, understanding, and contentment as you journey through life with those you hold dear.

I love the sentiment expressed by this quote. Life is enriched by those who travel with us on life's journey. What better time than Valentine's Day to tell them how much they mean to us!

At Memory Bound, we love Valentine's Day and everything it represents. And we have everything you need to share the holiday with those you love.

The store is filled with all kinds of products for your Valentine's Day projects. I've never seen so many wonderful products for this holiday! Take a look at just a few of the goodies I saw at Memory Bound a couple of days ago -- too many to share in a single blog post!

This display includes a variety of papers, embellishments, punches, and stamps which will make your holiday crafting a breeze.

And on this end cap you'll find the latest lines by Echo Park and We R Memory Keepers: Yours Truly and Love Struck. I'm using the adorable Love Struck line for my February mini-album class.

We also have all kinds of card samples to inspire your Valentine's Day crafting.

In addition to all the products you'll find at Memory Bound, we have several Valentine-themed events and activities over the next few weeks:

* January 9 -- Diana's Scrappin' Kidz class features an adorable Valentine Portfolio project just for kids!

* January 26 and 31 -- Katie will be teaching a fabulous Valentine Copic Card class.

* February 3 -- I'll be teaching a mini-album class featuring the new WRMK Love Struck line.

* Wednesday Make-N-Takes in January -- We'll be making adorable Valentines each week featuring a new technique.

* February 4 -- We'll have a special Valentine Bag Topper Make-N-Take.

See the calendar for more details on all of these events and watch for more details throughout the month on our blog!

Happy Valentine's Day crafting!
Janet

Our Scrapping Resolutions for 2012

2012-01-01T12:11:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year to all of our Memory Bound friends! We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable celebration. We're looking forward to all that 2012 has to bring!

A new year gives us all the opportunity to set new goals. With that in mind, I asked our Memory Bound staff to share a few of their scrapping resolutions for 2012. There is something about publicly stating your goals that makes you more likely to achieve them -- so now we'll have to hold each other accountable and make sure that all of these great goals turn into reality!

Diana:

* My daughter and I need to get my granddaughter's books done for graduation!

* I want to once again purge and reorganize my SB room. (I noticed my cardstock is all out of color order!)

* I want to do some serious scrapbooking of all things.

* I also want to come up with some really fun kids' class ideas and maybe some other class ideas, too.

(Diana recently retired from her nursing job, so we know she'll have plenty of time to accomplish these goals and MORE!)

Maggie:

* I will finish my granddaughter's 1st year album in time for her birthday in July.

* I will organize a card/tag making station that will allow me to sit down and create beautiful cards and tags without spending time looking for everything.

Janet:

* I will finish organizing and decorating my crafting space. (Special note: Janet will be teaching a Get Organized class on January 28. See the newsletter for details!)

* I will edit and print my backlog of digital photos.

* I will schedule scrapbooking time for myself each week to "catch up" on pages and big projects.

* I will finish the Disney/Harry Potter album I started last summer.

Tess:

* I want to scrap our Disney trip from two years ago... before I forget more than I already have... and so we can enjoy the pictures more readily than on the computer!

Dawn:

* I plan to make a junk binder of fun things our family does throughout the year.

Katie:

* I will use what I already have...I have so much that I forget what I have!!

* I am going to get organized and the items at I am not using or plan on using will go the the Memory Bound garage sale. I need more space!
* My "big" resolution is to participate in Becky Higgins' Project Life. This will help me to scrap my favorite moments through the year, while keeping track of the of other things going on in our lives.

Mindy:

* My Scrapping Resolution is to get back to scrapping and try to become a paper user instead of just a paper collector. My kids are 5 and 1 in real life but in their albums they are 3 and just born so I have some catching up to do!

Amanda:

* I plan to get Brady's first album done by his first birthday.

* I will finish 2 pages a week.

* I try not to be so hung up on one page!

Kellie:

* My 2012 goal is to keep a monthly junk binder album of things that happen through the year. I did this in 2010 and love looking back at the movies & restaurants we went to, what we did for holidays, news stories, trips, etc. It’s a great way to journal a year in your life.

* I would also like to finish some of the projects I have started.

Pat:

* My goal is to get all my old photos filed and organized and then organize all my digital photos stored on my computer so I'm not always looking through hundreds of photos to find what I want.

* * * * *

What are your Scrapping Resolutions for 2012? Whatever they are -- be it organizing your space or making a vacation album -- we can help you meet your goals. We look forward helping you be successful in the new year!

Janet

Memory Bound Treat Kits

2011-12-30T08:00:00.003-06:00

We are excited to introduce you to our latest set of critter treat boxes for Valentine's Day and Easter: Bunny, Owl, and Fox! Our treat kits include all the supplies you need to make several boxes, perfect for giving to everyone on your gift list. Just add candy!

The Bunny Treat Box holds a small bag which can be filled with jelly beans, M&Ms, or any small candy. Bunny would be suitable for Valentine's Day or (of course!) Easter.

Given how much I love owls, I was only too happy to design an owl treat container! Our Owl Treat Box can be filled with small candies and would be perfect for Valentine's Day -- or any other special occasion!

I had so much fun creating this little fox! Our Fox Treat Box will hold a single Reese's Peanut Butter cup for your special Valentine.

All three treat boxes are available now at Memory Bound. They'll be lots of fun to make -- and even more fun to give!

Janet

Valentine Make-N-Take: Wednesday, January 4

2011-12-28T00:00:00.000-06:00

We've got some great stuff planned in the new year at Memory Bound! We're starting things off with a series of Valentine Card Make-N-Takes beginning on Wednesday, January 4. Stop in anytime from 1 to 6pm and make an adorable card for someone special in your life. You'll love this Valentine designed by Katie using her favorite kraft paper and (of course!) a bit of twine!

Our Valentine Card Make-N-Takes will be held each Wednesday in January, 1-6pm. We'll post a photo of each week's card on our blog a few days in advance. Hope to see you there! Materials fee: $1-2

Janet

It's the day after Christmas!

2011-12-26T09:29:00.001-06:00

We hope that you and your family had a wonderful Christmas this year! The day after Christmas is considered one of the biggest shopping days of the year, so once you're recovered from yesterday's festivities, be sure to stop by Memory Bound today!

Now is the time to stock up on seasonal products for your Christmas photos. Make a note of the layouts you want to make for Christmas 2011 and pick out paper and embellishments to match. Shop now for the best selection!

You'll also want to think about making seasonal thank you cards to send after Christmas. This is a great activity for kids to do during this week of vacation from school. If you're short on card-making supplies, we've got you covered! We have stamps, embellishments, and even pre-made Doodlebug cards which will make it easy to acknowledge all the gifts you and your family members received.

And if you were lucky enough to receive a Memory Bound gift card, stop in on December 26 and 27 to get 15% OFF your entire purchase! It's like another day of Christmas!

Janet

Best Gingerbread Cookies EVER!

2011-12-22T08:00:00.001-06:00

I know many of you are finishing up your holiday baking, but there's always time to try one more cookie recipe, right? I've posted this recipe for Gingerbread Cookies on my own blog a couple of times, and this year I want to share it with our Memory Bound friends, too. I don't think you'll find a better gingerbread recipe anywhere!

I have been making this recipe for several years now and can assure you that it is absolutely foolproof. The cookies are perfect every time! If you're looking for a wonderful new Christmas cookie recipe to try, I'd suggest this one. The cookies are delicious and believe me, there is nothing like the smell of gingerbread cookies at Christmas time!

Happy holiday baking!
Janet

Patti Paige's Gingerbread (makes 25 gingerbread men or women) -- from Martha Stewart Holidays, 1993

New York baker Patti Page has developed a sturdy gingerbread dough that can be rolled and cut by small children, and still produces a delicious cookie.

10.5 tablespoon unsalted butter (1 stick plus 2.5 tablespoons)
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1.5 teaspoons salt
1 large egg
3/4 cup dark molasses
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1. Cream together butter and sugar. Add spices, salt, egg, and molasses and beat well. Sift together flour, soda, and baking powder; add to butter mixture and beat again. (I use a stand mixer for this step...it's a very stiff dough.)
2. Chill dough for several hours. (This is important...it rolls best if it is well chilled. I bake a few cookies at a time and re-chill the dough before rolling out each batch.)
3. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
4. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into shapes.
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

Christmas morning recipe: French Toast Casserole

2011-12-20T11:05:00.001-06:00

With less than a week to go before Christmas, many of us are in a shopping, wrapping, and baking frenzy. If you're like me, you could use a few short-cuts at this point! Today I would like to share with you a yummy make-ahead recipe for French Toast Casserole. This is the perfect recipe for Christmas morning breakfast or brunch! You make it the night before and pop it in the oven 30 minutes before you plan to eat.

This recipe for French Toast Casserole was developed by one of our Memory Bound customers, Ruth Hamilton. Ruth, who is now retired, created this recipe when she was on staff at the local Girl Scout office. In my Girl Scout leader days, I attended a "lodge camping" training session where we tried this recipe -- and I've been making it on Christmas morning ever since! Ruth told me that she makes it on Christmas morning, too.

French Toast Casserole

1 stick margarine

1 C brown sugar

1 T cinnamon

12 slices Texas toast (I sometimes use only 10 due to the size of my pan!)

6 eggs

1.5 C milk

Salt to taste

Melt margarine, brown sugar, and cinnamon in bottom of 9 x 13 inch aluminum pan (not glass). Cover with two layers of bread (sliced). Mix eggs, milk and salt. Pour over bread layers. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. Uncover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from pan promptly by turning pan upside down.

Note: Leftovers keep well for a couple of days!

This is how the casserole looks the night before. Just cover and pop it in the fridge until morning! Remember, Ruth developed this recipe for Girl Scouts, so it's easy for kids to make the night before Christmas!

This is how it looks after you take it out of the oven. I usually invert it onto a cookie sheet. It's like one big cinnamon roll! You can imagine how good your house will smell with this casserole in the oven!

And this is how it looks on the plate. It is so yummy that you don't even need syrup. We usually serve it with fruit, muffins, juice, and coffee. It's the perfect Christmas morning breakfast or brunch! If you're having guests for Christmas, it will save you oodles of time in the kitchen.

If you're looking to simplify your Christmas day cooking, this is the dish for you. Thanks, Ruth, for sharing this wonderful recipe!

Janet

Post-Christmas Project: Ornament Mini-Album

2011-12-18T15:29:00.003-06:00

In the midst of the busy holiday season when we all have plenty of tasks on our to-do lists, I always look for opportunities to simplify. But this year, I'm making adding an important project to my list: An ornament mini-album. My goal is to start on this album as I'm packing up decorations at the end of the holiday season.

I've been thinking about this project for a few years, but having my daughter home for Christmas break made me realize that NOW is the time to do it. This year, she asked me to save some of the decorating for her to do when she came home, and of course I was only too happy that she wanted to help put the ornaments on the Christmas trees!

As a college sophomore, she is starting to think the small Christmas tree she'll choose for her apartment next year. As we unpacked ornaments, we talked about the table-top tree I had back in college and looked at the ornaments I saved from back them. I still cherish those ornaments; in fact, they graced our tree after I got married and are still some of the first I hang each year.

We unpacked many ornaments from my daughter's own childhood. Some of them hadn't been out of storage in a few years so it was fun for her to see them again. She remembered certain ornaments as favorites for reasons I would never have guessed. We talked about them all...the handmade felt mittens created by her great grandma, the crocheted ornament set made especially for her by an older lady the year she was born, the pink Minnie Mouse ornament she remembered buying on our trip to Disney World.

Of course, we looked at all the special ornaments she made as a little girl, including these glitter- and macaroni-covered hearts. Even though these ornaments are on the tree each year, I think she realized for the first time the significance of treasures such as these.

Each ornament tells a little bit of our family's history.

One of our smaller trees holds my collection of Shiny Brite ornaments, most of which belonged to my late grandma. As a child, I loved the special glow of these ornaments. Today, I love hanging them on my tree. They bring back many fond childhood memories.

The lesson here is that each ornament has a story which needs to be told. In many cases, I'm the only one who knows the story. Now is the time for me to photograph and write the stories for each one.

So this year as we pack up the Christmas ornaments, we will set aside several for my daughter to take with her for her very first Christmas tree. Like the ornaments that I saved from my college days, I know that her ornaments will travel with her wherever she goes in life. I want the ornament stories to go with her so that one day she'll be able to pass them on to her own daughter, home from college on Christmas break.

Janet

A bit of scrapbooking humor!

2011-12-15T10:40:00.000-06:00

Somehow I don't think most of us will EVER run out of things to scrapbook! LOL

Janet

October Afternoon - Holiday Style

2011-12-13T09:58:00.000-06:00

What's your favorite childhood Christmas memory? I have several, but one of my favorites was going to my grandparents' house on Christmas eve. Being an only child, it was fun to be with my cousins on that special evening. After a potluck dinner which always included chili and oyster soup (which was surely eaten only by the grown-ups!) we all got to put on brand-new pajamas. Then we camped out in one of the bedrooms, peering out the window as we watched for the Santa's sleigh until it was time to go home to bed.

When I see October Afternoon's line, Holiday Style, I'm immediately transported back to Christmas Eve at Grandma's house. It must appeal to many of you, too, as it has been so popular that we couldn't keep it in stock! But it's back in stock now and ready for your Christmas projects!

There is a 12x2 sticker sheet, an awesome chipboard sticker sheet, and a great 8x8 paper pad, to name just a few of my favorites. Paper pads are the perfect option when you can't decide which paper to buy -- the pad gives you some of each!

Stop in this holiday season and get your October Afternoon goodies. You can't go wrong with this colorful Christmas line!

Here's to making a few new Christmas memories this year!

Janet

Matchbooks: Perfect Stocking Stuffers!

2011-12-11T09:21:00.000-06:00

Santa is really busy at this time of year, so why not help him out a bit with a few cute stocking stuffers? Memory Bound carries white matchbooks which can be decorated any way you'd like!

And at just 59 cents, you certainly can't beat the price!

Let your creativity soar and decorate the matchbooks to suit each person and in any theme! The pages are blank and would be adorable with a few tiny photos or inspirational quotes. The matchbooks are so small that they could even be tucked into a holiday card (and mailed in a padded envelope) or hung on the tree for eager little ones to find on Christmas morning.

So drop in soon and take a look at these adorable little matchbooks. They're too cute to pass up, and Santa will appreciate the help! :)

Happy holiday crafting!

Janet

Maggie's Tags of Christmas!

2011-12-09T08:00:00.001-06:00

I stopped by Memory Bound recently and while there, I checked out the fantastic sample Christmas tags from Tim Holtz' 12 Tags of Christmas. You really MUST see them in person to appreciate the details! The tags are each works of art.

Then, on the same display, three additional tags caught my eye, but they weren't from Tim's series. Watch out, Tim! These are MAGGIE'S TAGS of CHRISTMAS! They are simple, understated, and beautiful!

Maggie used Tim's latest Seasonal Distress Inks to create her tags. She also incorporated ideas she picked up on Tammy Tutterow's blog (click here to visit Tammy's inspirational blog). Tammy is an instructor and has been a designer for many companies, including Ranger. Her work is beautiful and her blog has many wonderful instructional videos. Check it out!

Maggie used "de-bossing" on her tags -- she put the "bumpy" side of the embossing on the back of the tag. It creates an interesting effect! She also made great use of Tim's seasonal dies. You will love the pinecone die!

Thank you, Maggie, for sharing your beautiful samples and inspiring us all!

Janet

Noel Project Kit -- Fun to Make, Fun to Give!

2011-12-07T08:00:00.003-06:00

Are you looking for a gift to make for someone on your Christmas list? We have the perfect project kit for you:
The Bo Bunny Noel Project Kit.

This project kit ($34.99) contains a 16"x20" canvas along with paper and chipboard to decorate it. You can follow the sample design or create your own. Just add a family photo, as Dawn did in this beautiful sample she created!

If you're looking for a project to whip up in an afternoon, the Noel canvas would be a great choice. Handmade seasonal gifts are always appreciated -- and they're perfect for the "hard to buy for" people on your list.

But I'm guessing that you'll love your completed canvas so much that you just might decide to keep it for yourself! :)

Happy holiday crafting!
Janet

Learn New Techniques with Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas

2011-12-05T09:38:00.000-06:00

Tim Holtz is without a doubt one of the most influential figures in the crafting industry, always pushing boundaries by developing new products and techniques.

2012 Tag #1

For the past several holiday seasons, Tim has created "12 Tags of Christmas", a series of tags made with his tools and products. You can learn many new techniques just by watching Tim's videos about each tag. Many of our customers have enjoyed making each tag, too. The completed tags would be beautiful hanging on a gift or -- if you can't bear to give them away! -- adorning your Christmas tree or fireplace mantel.

It's not too late to jump in for this year! Visit Tim's blog here to learn about the 12 Tags of Christmas and watch his instructional videos. We have the products you need to create your own set of tags, so watch the video, make your list, and stop by to pick up your supplies!

2009 12 Tags of Christmas

And if you're yet not a fan of Memory Bound on Facebook, be sure to "like" our page, where Kellie has been posting each of Tim's tags, as well as tags from past years.

Happy holiday crafting!
Janet

New Product Alert: Embossing Magic

2011-12-02T08:00:00.003-06:00

Let's talk about heat embossing for a moment! First, I'll tell you a funny but completely true story:

I used to do heat embossing with my TOASTER! I would hold my stamped image over the top of the toaster slots, push down the lever, and heat the image from below. Needless to say, this didn't work so well for a couple of reasons! First, my toaster lever would not push down unless there was something in the slot, so for awhile there I was eating a LOT of bagels! Second, heat embossing works much better if you apply the heat from above! You cannot control the application of heat with a toaster! :)

I'm happy to report that my toaster embossing days are in the distant past, and for many years now I've had a great heat embossing tool. It works perfectly and is much easier on the waistline! :)

But I digress! Let's talk about another problem that you may have run into when heat embossing -- stray specks of powder on areas of your image where you do not want powder to be! I'm sure you know what I'm talking about -- you carefully stamp your image, sprinkle on the powder, and tap off the excess, only to find the stray specks have blurred your image, making it less crisp than you'd hoped.

Fortunately, there is a little tool to solve this problem: Embossing Magic. I've had one of these little pouches for years now and can attest to the fact that it REALLY works well -- much better than a toaster! :) I don't know exactly WHAT is in this little pouch, but you simply rub it across the paper before you stamp your image, and the embossing powder goes only where you want it. It is MAGIC! No more stray specks! And this results in much cleaner, crisper embossed images.

We just got the Embossing Magic pouches at Memory Bound. Pick yours up for only $6.99! Unlike toaster embossing, this tool really DOES work! :)
Janet

Upcoming Class: Scrappin' Kidz - December 12

2011-12-02T00:30:00.000-06:00

Any time of year is a great time to foster your kids' love of crafting. But I think it's especially fun around the holidays! Research shows that participating in arts and crafts helps children with physical, social, and cognitive development. There are so many reasons to encourage your children in this area -- plus, it's just plain FUN! :)

Our monthly Scrappin' Kidz classes are a wonderful way to introduce your kids to a whole range of creative endeavors. Our instructor, Diana, loves working with children and prepares adorable seasonal projects for them to make each month. Diana's projects are so cute that you'll wish YOU could go to her classes! Our next Scrappin' Kidz class is on December 12. See details below.
Janet

Monday, December 12, 4-5pm

Instructor: Diana Tuttle / Fee: $12

Skill Level: Ages 8+ / Bring Basic Class Kit and Zip Dry Scrappin’ Kidz classes are here for the entire school year! In December, kids will make this adorable gift bag. Classes are open to all school-age children but we ask that kids younger than 8 be accompanied by an older sibling or adult. Learn new techniques & improve your scrapbooking skills while having a great time. Bring a friend and share the fun!

New Product Alert: 2010 Timeless Moment Sticker

2011-11-30T09:22:00.000-06:00

Did you know that the top movie for 2010 was Toy Story 3? Did you watch it? Do you remember that 33 miners that were trapped for 69 days underground?

These facts and snippets of history can be found on the new 2010 Timeless Moments sticker, just in at Memory Bound!

These interesting facts give your scrapbooks context. They provide the "back story" to our lives and will be very interesting to look back on in years to come. The Timeless Moment sticker would be perfect for a "Year in Review" page in a 2010 album!

Janet

New Inky Antics Collection: Cat and Dog Stamps

2011-11-28T08:44:00.000-06:00

We have a new Inky Antics stamp set which is sure to please our animal-loving friends: cat and dog stamps! This new collection arrived at Memory Bound last week.

This set features whimsical images perfect for everyday occasions throughout the year.

Be sure to check out the sample board posted at Memory Bound. It contains six cheerful cards suitable for all ages!

Janet

Dear Senior Mom: You can do it! (Part 2)

2011-11-27T22:56:00.002-06:00

Now that Thanksgiving is over and the winter holidays are fast approaching, reality begins to set in for high school seniors and their parents. The senior year is a busy and emotional time for everyone. And if you're a scrapbooker, a quick check of the calendar will confirm that -- in addition to attending all of your senior's activities -- you have only a few short months to finish those scrapbooks for graduation!

This post is Part 2 of my advice for Senior Moms as they prepare for the big graduation open house. (Read Part 1 here.)

5. Simplify. Find a layout design you like? Repeat it. No one will be the wiser. Limiting your design choices will speed up the scrapbooking process.

Here's a simple layout I've used a few times. Works great for single photos. Trust me: No one notices when you repeat a layout!

Here it is again in a completely different theme.

Here's another quick and easy layout I've used several times.

Here it is again with a completely different set of photos.

You may also find it helpful to create “highlights” layouts. If your student is involved in sports, rather than scrapbook every single game, choose some photos to represent the entire season and create a two- or four-page spread to document the highlights. After graduation (when things settle down!) plan to go back and create additional layouts to supplement your “highlights” pages.

Use three-ring binders to store your completed layouts. Binders accommodate divided page protectors so you can incorporate photos you don’t have time to scrapbook right now. Plus, they’ll be sturdy and easy for guests to handle at your party.

6. Plan ahead. Working from your list of Must-Do Layouts, organize supplies for several pages at once. Take your photos to Memory Bound and purchase materials to match, then drop everything into a protective sleeve for safekeeping. As you do this, identify a few basic cardstock colors that you’re using frequently (such as your school colors) and purchase them (along with adhesive!) in volume.

7. Keep up with photo printing. Some Senior Moms fall behind in their photo printing. Don’t let this happen to you! It happened to me and unfortunately, I lost valuable scrapbooking time editing and printing photos. My advice is to keep up with the process. Choose a reputable online developer, then upload and order prints regularly. If you have a backlog of photos to print, purchase a pre-paid plan to reduce the cost per print.

8. Use your resources: Delegate, outsource, or purchase. If your goal is completed scrapbooks, then let go of some other graduation tasks. You can’t do it all! Rather than spending hours in the kitchen, purchase food for your party. Need display boards with your senior’s photos? This is a great task to assign to your graduating student or another crafty family member.

Let Memory Bound be at the top of your list of resources! In January and February, we're scheduling Senior Crop Nights -- dedicated evenings just for you, and we'll be there to help you with ideas to simplify the tasks on your list. And watch for our Graduation Open House in the spring, where we'll have all kinds of grad party ideas on display.

9. Use your computer. Microsoft Word can be a Senior Mom’s best friend! Using Word for journaling and titles will save you valuable time. I have a few layout designs that I use regularly, so I save the journaling text boxes to use as templates. You can even format and print text boxes for several layouts at once.

10. Don’t let scrapbooking add to your stress! Senior Moms can feel a great deal of pressure to complete albums in time for graduation. RELAX! No one but you will know if you haven’t scrapbooked every single event in your child’s life. Let scrapbooking be your refuge and escape during this busy time! In the years to come, you'll treasure every single layout you've created.

If you have any questions, please let us know. We're eager to help you accomplish your graduation goals!

Janet

Staff Projects: Diana's Ribbon Tree

2011-11-26T00:00:00.005-06:00

I just saw the most amazing project at Memory Bound: Diana's Ribbon Tree!

Diana used one of our paper mache cones as the base for her beautiful project. She cut strips or "ribbons" of double-sided patterned paper (she used Echo Park's new Winter Park line), folded them into loops, and hot-glued the loops to the base of the tree. She used longer strips around the bottom portion of the tree and shorter strips around the middle and top.

Here's a close-up of her project. She wrapped ribbon around the tree, then added buttons for color and Stickles for a bit of sparkle.

Be sure to look for Diana's beautiful project the next time you visit Memory Bound. We have everything you need to create your own amazing tree to match your home decor!

Thanks, Diana, for inspiring us all with your creativity!

Janet

Holiday Card Make-N-Takes - Nov 28 & 30

2011-11-25T00:00:00.005-06:00

Don't miss our final week of Holiday Card Make-N-Takes!
Stop by on Monday, November 28 and Wednesday, November 30, 1-6pm each day to make a beautiful holiday card using a variety of new products and techniques. Materials fee $2.

Janet

On Monday, November 28, 1-6pm, we'll be making this beautiful card featuring one of Tim Holtz' new holiday embossing folders.

And on Wednesday, November 30, 1-6pm, we'll be making a fun card using strips of holiday papers.

20% OFF Wednesday and Black Friday Specials!

2011-11-22T14:28:00.000-06:00

PRE-THANKSGIVING SALE
20% OFF the Entire Store!*Wednesday, November 23

When you use your Memory Bound re-useable bag! The bags are only 99cents when you purchase one for $5.99 and receive a $5 Gift Card for your next visit!
*Purchase not eligible for MB Rewards; Excludes MB Gift Cards and classes

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND SPECIALS
Friday, Saturday, Sunday,
November 25-27

CLICK HERE for our sale flyer!

New Product Alert: Reminisce Signature Series

2011-11-22T09:04:00.000-06:00

Psst! I just learned that Dawn has ordered not just one but 23 NEW themes from Reminisce! Each of these popular and practical themes includes paper and stickers to match. All 23 should be arriving in the next few days! If you have any of these topics on your list of scrapbook pages to make, stop in soon to check them out!

Janet

In Loving Memory
Cat
Racing
School Rocks
Sweet 16
Dog
Baby Food
Rock Star
Our Family
Dance
Coaster Fanatics
Firefighter
Show Me the Money
Police
Tales of the Tropics
Wine Tasting
Wizards
Football
Basketball
Soccer
Wrestling
Volleyball
Gymnastics

Dear Senior Mom: You can do it! (Part 1)

2011-11-20T21:46:00.075-06:00

We're nearing the halfway point of the school year, the time when the reality of graduation begins looming large for seniors and their parents. Each year around this time, I run into a scrapbooker with sort of a crazed look in her eyes. This is the “Senior Mom” look! This woman wants to scrapbook all 18 years of her child’s life in the few short months before graduation.

This Senior Mom has been to graduation open houses over the years and knows what is expected of her. She feels enormous pressure to create a beautiful set of albums to display at her party, with every detail of every event in her child’s life perfectly documented. She also wants to create a handmade guestbook and invitations, decorations, and more. On top of that, she feels guilty that she didn’t start these projects years ago. Worse yet, she feels like she’ll be labeled a “bad mom” if she doesn’t get it all done!

Does this sound familiar?

Do not fear, Senior Mom! Many of us who work at Memory Bound have been Senior Moms (in fact, we're in the Senior Mom Club!) and we know the pressure you're feeling. We can help you with many tasks on your lengthy to-do list...except cleaning your house, of course! :) Meanwhile, here are some tips I've compiled to help you as you get started.

1. Start early. This means start NOW. No matter what you think, it will take you longer than you expect to meet your scrapbooking goals. And life doesn’t stop while you’re scrapbooking. Starting early will give you a little bit more breathing room.

Maybe you feel like it’s already too late to start early, but don’t despair! You can still meet your scrapbooking goals, as long as you set realistic expectations. Read on...

2. Make a Must-Do Layout List. Make a list of the events/activities/milestones that you absolutely must scrapbook before graduation. Focus your time on completing those layouts and set the other photos aside for later. (For me, this meant absolutely NO CAT LAYOUTS during my daughter's senior year!) As you complete pages, check them off your list. This will keep you on track and give you a sense of accomplishment.

I suggest adding one special project to your Must-Do list: A portrait album. Gather all of those 8x10 school photos, choose a consistent color/design scheme, and put them in an album (I used a WRMK 3-ring binder). If nothing else gets done, you will have a wonderful, concise album showing how your child has grown and changed over the years. I guarantee that this album will get the most attention of any you complete!

3. Scale back your expectations. If you’re a new scrapbooker, you’ll need to make few layouts before you’re comfortable with the tools and process. If you’re more experienced, you may be accustomed to spending quite a bit of time on each page. Either way, you probably need to let go of the dream of scrapbooking every event in time for graduation.

For instance, I didn't have time to scrapbook my daughter’s birth or infancy in time for the open house -- and that was okay! She created display boards with a few photos from those years and it worked out fine. Let go of the pressure to do EVERYTHING. You can't, and you shouldn't try -- or you won't have time to enjoy the senior year!

Keep in mind that as graduation approaches, we can help you with your display boards -- we can copy photos, help you use our die cutting machines, and assist you with creating your boards.

4. Ask for help from your student. Even a busy senior can help with scrapbooking. As I worked on graduation albums, I had my daughter write notes about events that I later used for journaling. I often created layouts and left the journaling for her to fill in when she had a spare minute. After all, the stories I’m capturing in the scrapbooks are hers. Her voice should be represented in the albums!

In recent weeks, I've been seeing several seniors working on their scrapbooks at Memory Bound. This is a great activity for kids to do in their spare time, and it will be enormously helpful when graduation rolls around! Our work room is almost always available for you to use for crafting, free of charge. Just give us a call to be sure we have space!

Senior Moms, I will leave you with these thoughts for now; look for additional suggestions in upcoming blog posts. Meanwhile, if you have any questions or tips to share, please post them! We at Memory Bound are happy to help you so that you'll be able to enjoy every minute of this very special year in your student's life!

Janet

Staff Projects: Katie's December Daily Library Tray

2011-11-18T09:22:00.000-06:00

It's no secret that we have some of the most creative staff members anywhere working at Memory Bound! Many of them have created December Journals to document special holiday happenings (if you missed the blog post, you can see photos of their beautiful projects here).

Katie took a different approach this year, choosing to use a 7Gypsies library tray and "divider" cards. I'm a "library girl" at heart, so anything made with a library tray appeals to me! I love how her project came together!

Katie was initially inspired by a project she saw in the Somerset Holidays and Celebrations magazine. It appealed to her desire to keep things simple and doable during the busy holiday season. All she needed was a 7Gypsies tray, paper, and embellishments.

When the Simple Stories line arrived at Memory Bound, Katie saw that it would be perfect for her project. She cut the double-sided 12x12 sheets into 4x6 squares to make 24 different cards that fit perfectly into the library tray. But Katie says the best part about this collection is the sheet of number stickers, which gave her many options for each day. She bought two sheets so she could use the same number on the front and back of each card.

Katie's plan is to take photos throughout the month of December and simply place them behind the divider cards. There is plenty of room for writing down special memories, too. She also included kraft envelopes for memorabilia she plans to keep.

Her boys' Christmas wish lists will be on these adorable cards. What a treasure this project will be -- now and in years to come!

Thanks, Katie, for inspiring us all!

Janet

Holiday Card Make-N-Takes - Nov 21 & 23

2011-11-17T12:00:00.001-06:00

Our November Holiday Card Make-N-Takes are underway! Stop by on Mondays and Wednesdays in November from 1 to 6pm to make a beautiful holiday card using a variety of new products and techniques. Come to all of our make-n-takes and you'll have a collection of unique cards to give to the extra-special people in your life! Materials fee $2.

Janet

On Monday, November 21, 1-6pm, we'll be making this fun Santa card, perfect for a child on your list!

On Wednesday, November 23, 1-6pm, we'll be making an adorable card with a Santa belt buckle.

More Holiday Fun at Memory Bound!

2011-11-15T19:48:00.002-06:00

I've been fortunate to spend a lot of time at Memory Bound over the past few days, preparing for and teaching classes. Goodness me! In addition to our wide variety of class offerings and Holiday Card Make-N-Takes, the store is bursting at the seams with beautiful products and ideas for the holidays!

Maggie recently put together an adorable Christmas banner using pre-made words and shapes which she covered with Ranger's metal foil sheets.

She used alcohol ink and embossing folders to add color and texture. This was Maggie's first time trying out the foil sheets and she reported that they were very easy to use!

First, Maggie embossed the foil sheets, then she peeled off the backing and applied them to the shapes. Next, she dropped a bit of alcohol ink on the ink applicator pad then swiped it over the embossed foil. She layered different ink colors and spread them around until she was happy with the look. I'm giving you a only a tiny glimpse of her super-cute project -- you'll just have to stop by Memory Bound to see it in person!

We just received a huge shipment of buttons! What could be better than buttons in rainbow-color order? I LOVE the fact that Memory Bound carries bulk buttons! This makes it easy to choose the perfect mix of color and size.

And here are the neutrals, perfect for your vintage/heritage projects.

I spotted the new Cosmo Cricket Christmas paper right away. The retro designs remind me of the holidays I spent at my Grandma's house as a little girl. Not that that makes me old or anything... ;)

I peeked inside the 6x6 paper pad to see some of the patterns. Love this one!

And this one, too!

We have 12x12 frames which are super easy to cover with patterned paper. The frames would make a wonderful holiday decoration or gift for any time of year, based on the paper you choose! Maggie decorated this frame for the holidays. It's hard to imagine a sweeter photo!

Don't take my word for it.... stop in soon to see these and many many more wonderful holiday ideas! We're excited to help you get started on your holiday projects!
Janet

New Product Alert: The Sew Stamper

2011-11-13T21:45:00.000-06:00

The We R Memory Keepers folks have done it again! To add to the long list of wonderful tools they've created, they've now designed a new tool called The Sew Stamper. We just received it at Memory Bound! Diane agreed to do her best "Vanna" impression to show us this new tool. She even dressed to match! (Just kidding about that part!)

The Sew Stamper combines the best of both worlds – "sewn" designs with a self-inking rubber rolling stamp! Several interchangeable heads are currently available, each with a different design.

Here are two cards created with the Sew Stamper tool. The "stitches" aren't really stitches at all, but stamps!

We continue to be impressed with the innovative, high-quality tools from WRMK. The new Sew Stamper promises to be a new favorite!

Janet

Holiday Card Make-N-Takes - Nov 14 & 16

2011-11-11T00:00:00.008-06:00

Janet

On Monday, November 14, 1-6pm, we'll be making this fun card with a unique fold!

On Wednesday, November 16, 1-pm, we'll be making this pretty card featuring a sparkly tree.

Holiday Treat Kits -- Fun to Make, Fun to Eat!

2011-11-10T00:00:00.004-06:00

Dawn recently asked me to put together some treat ideas for the holidays. I was happy to help, and I had a lot of fun doing it! But, as I mentioned in a previous post, I bought extra candy to work with (in case I messed up my samples!) and had to eat all the leftovers! So this little project resulted in a few extra hours on the elliptical machine for me!

We have kits available with instructions, color photos, and all the materials you need to put together these and other holiday treats. Each kit makes several of one kind. They're all easy to make and (TRUST ME!) even more fun to eat!

This Lollipop Cover will work with any flat lollipop. I used the Caramel Apple Pops available in stores right now.

This one is a York Peppermint Patty Cover. It's super easy to make and would be fun to use on your Thanksgiving table! I used the large York Peppermint Patties for this one. Dangerously yummy... LOL

Our Turkey Treat Boxes have been a big hit, too. This little guy is made with our small die cut bag (with the handles cut off) along with "feathers" from die cut flowers. The kits include small bags and the recipe for Harvest Blessings Mix, a snack mix in which each ingredient represents some aspect of Thanksgiving (Bugles = cornucopias, pretzels = arms folded in prayer, etc.). This snack mix has been tested and approved by college students, as I just took several large bags of it to our daughter and friends in Indiana last week!

And finally, this Rudolph is made with a Skor candy bar, brown dot cardstock, and die cut flourishes for antlers. I used a Skor candy bar because it is thin, comes in a brown wrapper, and (not gonna lie) because I really like toffee! He is easy to make and would be a perfect favor for the big and little kids on your list this year.

Stop in soon and pick up your treat kits! I know you'll have as much fun with them as I did! See you at the gym! :)

Janet

Upcoming Class: Scrappin' Kidz After School

2011-11-09T00:00:00.002-06:00

Are you looking to inspire a bit of creativity in your kids? Then look no further than our monthly Scrappin' Kidz classes taught by Diana Tuttle. Each month, Diana has fun and inspiring projects all ready for your kids to create. Her projects are so cute that you'll wish you were a kid again so YOU could sign up, too! :)

Our next Scrappin' Kidz After School class will be next Monday, November 14, 4-5pm. While making projects, Diana teaches kids the basics of scrapbooking and paper crafting. Everyone has a great time in her classes!

In this class, kids will be making a cute little tag album, perfect for pictures or journaling about the treasures in their lives...

...and a "Thankful" treasure box, which will hold the little tag book and other special mementos. I love how Diana has incorporated a "thankful" theme into this month's projects. :) Diana is a Cricut expert and uses many Cricut elements in her classes, such as this adorable little fox.

Call us soon to register your kids!

Janet

Scrappin' Kidz After School - November class

Monday, November 14, 4-5pm

Instructor: Diana Tuttle / Fee: $12

Skill Level: Ages 8+ / Bring Basic Class Kit and Zip Dry Scrappin’ Kidz classes are here for the entire school year! Classes are open to all school-age children but we ask that kids younger than 8 be accompanied by an older sibling or adult. Learn new techniques & improve your scrapbooking skills while having a great time. Bring a friend and share the fun! (Next month's class will be on Monday, December 12, 4-5pm.)

Upcoming Classes: Scoring Board Paper Crafts & Family Album

2011-11-07T19:19:00.000-06:00

Now's the time to get a jump on your holiday crafting! One sure way to do that is to attend Pat's two great upcoming classes: Scoring Board Paper Crafts and Family Album.

Pat has become our resident scoring board expert! Her past scoring board classes have been very popular. Join her next week for Scoring Board Paper Crafts to make some adorable containers perfect for holiday gift giving! Even if you've never used a scoring board, have no fear! By the time you finish with Pat's class, your scoring board will be one of your favorite crafting tools.

Pat's next class, Family Album, is based on a project she saw at a manufacturer's booth at CHA. Pat knew right away she wanted to develop a similar project to teach at Memory Bound! This little album has all sorts of fun "flips" and "folds". It would make a wonderful holiday gift! (But it's so cute, you just might want to keep it for yourself!)

Details for each class are below. Give us a call soon to register!

Janet

Scoring Board Paper Crafts

Thursday, November 10, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: Pat Ferin Fee: $17 / Skill Level: Any / Bring Basic Class kit, Martha Stewart scoring board, Tacky Tape, brown Distress Ink, & blending tool. Sign up for class & get 25% off the MS scoring board.

Here’s your chance to create a variety of holiday projects using the versatile Martha Stewart scoring board. Once you know the secrets, you’ll want to make these projects for all your holiday gift giving!

Family Album

Sunday, November 13, 12:30-2:30pm
Instructor: Pat Ferin / Fee: $17 / Skill Level: Any
Bring Basic Class Kit plus Vintage Photo Distress Ink, blending tool, splat mat, and 1/4" Tacky Tape

Join us as we create an 8”x8” family treasure using the 7 Gypsies vintage papers, tags, ATC cards, and moreto embellish our flip and fold book. This unique book stands up to display your favorite family photos or folds into a mini-book. Don't miss this fun class!

"Here's What Happened" Sheets for 2010

2011-11-07T08:06:00.000-06:00

With so many wonderful holiday products in the store right now, it might be easy to miss one of our old favorites -- the "Here's What Happened" sheets. In addition to the sheets for past years, we now have the 2010 sheets in stock, ready for you to add to your scrapbooks!

If you think about it, your scrapbooks represent a "time capsule" of your life. Those who look at your albums in years to come will appreciate the context provided by the "Here's What Happened" sheets. They provide facts about what was happening in the world around us, which adds depth and interest to our scrapbooks.

In future years, just think how interesting it would be to see what was popular "way back in 2010" in music and movies, as well as the price of a gallon of milk and major world happenings! These sheets would make a great cover page or "year in review" page for your 2010 scrapbook.

Check out the "Here's What Happened" sheets next time you're at Memory Bound!

Janet

Make this Holiday Season SPECIAL!

2011-11-06T10:23:00.001-06:00

If you missed our Holiday Open House yesterday, no worries! It continues today (Sunday, November 6), 12pm-5pm. It's worth a drive from anywhere to see all of the wonderful products in the store and to get inspired by the beautiful handiwork of our very talented staff members!

I snapped a few photos around the store just give you a small glimpse of some of the great things you can see at Memory Bound right now.

Pat made this adorable wreath using squares of paper shaped into cones, then adhered to a Styrofoam wreath form. Pat was inspired by a wreath she saw at CHA -- and her version is even cuter!

We have many, many kits this year for party favors, treat bags, and more. The sour cream containers (left) are easy (but very impressive!) to make and the snowman bags are just plain adorable.

We also have Christmas card kits galore! These particular kits make several of one kind of card, so you can pick and choose to fit your holiday mailing list needs.

Of course, the very best thing about Memory Bound is the wonderful people who work there, including Tess who I found in the embellishment section, making everything look beautiful!

We have a huge variety of layered die cut titles in all kinds of themes, including several for Christmas. See that UGLY Christmas Sweater title? I may be able to use that one this year, as my daughter took one of MY lovely Christmas sweaters to college for her Ugly Christmas Sweater Party! (Should I be honored by this???)

Diane recently made a gorgeous album from the Simple Stories line.

She and Katie will be teaching this class in January, so watch the next calendar for it! You won't want to miss it. My pictures don't do justice to this beautifully detailed album!

Tess did her best "Vanna" to show our little reindeer candy bar cover. I designed this guy to fit around a skinny candy bar like a Hershey's Skor bar. In the future, I should not be allowed to design candy projects...I bought extra (in case I messed up!) and ATE THEM ALL!

Pat probably has much more self-control than me when it comes to candy projects! She and Maggie made adorable M&M holders using our clear tubes. They made a Thanksgiving and Christmas version.

Some wonderful customers who were cropping with us a few weeks ago shared the basic pattern, then Pat and Maggie worked their magic! We have instructions for this project at the store.

And here's Kellie squeezing a few more wonderful things into the Christmas section! Kellie and Dawn, and all of the Memory Bound staff members, have worked really hard to make this holiday season inspirational and fun. I hope you stop by soon to see the wonderful projects. With a little help from Memory Bound, you can make this holiday season really special!

Janet

Holiday Card Make-N-Takes - Nov 7 & 9

2011-11-03T10:04:00.002-05:00

Our November Holiday Card Make-N-Takes are underway! Stop by on Mondays and Wednesdays in November from 1 to 6pm to make a beautiful holiday card using a variety of new products and techniques.

Several of our talented staff members have designed this month's projects -- so you'll see a wonderful variety of styles on the cards. Come to all of our make-n-takes and you'll have a collection of unique cards to give to the extra-special people in your life! Materials fee $2.

Janet

On Monday, November 7, 1-6pm, we'll be making this beautiful cardinal card.

On Wednesday, November 9, 1-6pm, we'll be making this lovely card with vintage images.

New Product Alert: Stamp Mats

2011-11-01T23:49:00.001-05:00

I'm very excited to share that Dawn has ordered rubber stamping mats for us AND they've just arrived! The Darice Rubber Stamp Mat, only $5.99, provides just the right amount of "cushion" when stamping to give the clearest impressions. It is especially helpful to use a stamping mat if you're using acrylic stamps, which don't have a built in "cushion" that you find on wood-mounted rubber stamps. Stop in soon to get your stamp mat!

Janet

Darice Rubber Stamping Mat
The mat to make your stamping easier!
Rubber stamping mats will give under pressure
to provide the best ink impressions.

* lightweight *
* durable *
* washable *
* easy to use *